PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE

The strategy of industrial products to break fast or become outdated in the short- to
medium-term is known as planned obsolescence. When an item breaks, the manufacturer
typically encourages us to buy a new one instead of trying to fix it. Even so, these products
fail because they are designed to fail, and in many cases, the producer has planned when
their lives will end so that we will have to buy replacements. The overall goal of this is to
promote the purchase of new products and upgrades. Just like how Apple made the new
iPod’s battery lifespan so short. iPod at the time were expensive and Apple did not offer a
replacement for the battery. Their policy at the time was to tell the costumers to go buy a new
product. For many years, the planned obsolescence strategy has been used with a variety of
consumer goods.
Because of planned obsolescence, there is an increasing amount of electronic waste that
presents a major threat to the environment. In addition to its negative effects on the
environment, this constant need for the newest models results in constant customer
dissatisfaction and stress. From a different perspective, planned obsolescence benefits
producers of the products and the economy since it promotes consumption, which keeps sales
steady and even growing over time.
As individuals we have the power and responsibility to reduce the environmental effects of
planned obsolescence by avoiding impulsive purchases or buying only what is in trend and
choosing recycled or recyclable goods when buying products. We must know that if planned
obsolescence stops, we won’t go straightly into the Stone Age. If we stop being a part of this
vicious cycle by refusing to buy new products constantly, reusing and recycling we sure will
have a better life.